The Fights and more

What an eventful week/weekend. Between all the press and production, all the smoozing, networking, and training we were nonstop on the move. I am beat tired and we still have yet to get on a plane and travel home.

This experience was second to none. As a professional you only wish to have the opportunity to work with great people and great athletes. I have succeeded in this department this weekend. Between the coaches, Frank and Tony, our team, and all the other teams and people with the IFL these are wonderful folks. The respect shown was incredible and the treatment of the athletes and coaches was first class.

This league is unique. It is one of a kind in the sport of MMA and combines great athletes and coaches into a team format. You win and lose as a team, you compete as a team and the success of team is tied together. I believe this league with its format, head coaches, management, financial aspects, and the great fights/shows it puts on is going somewhere and only more is to come.

I had the great pleasure of shadow boxing and learning so much from Frank this past weekend. We did gymnastics, weights, yoga, boxing and even some ground work. He is bar none one of the great athletes and the greatest I have ever met. The reasons are vast and you just have to see him in action, listen to him speak and you will understand. We had a blast moving around, flowing with the body.

In addition I had the opportunity to work with one of the great boxing coaches in Tony DeMaria. He taught me the basic steps, how to position myself, how to move, the theory and application of jab, punch and hook. Wow, what a beautiful sport especially when you learn for a great coach ( I have had this opportunity before with Mark Reifkind and what he taught me is more than he even knows) and I appreciate that coaching and approach.

As for the fights, they were awesome. We won 2 and lost 4 but I tell you by the look of the other team you would have thought we went 6 and 0. There were some great punches, great kicks, knees, ground, etc.

Our first fight pitted Jeff Quinlan against Travis Hallman. This was Jeffs debut and Hallmans 60th or so fight. They were the alternates and competed at 185. Jeff beat Hallman but Hallman was able to get Jeff on the ground and keep him there the first 2 rounds for the majority of the time. Never the less, Jeff defended well and even slipped and punched and kicked Hallman who is known as a real excellent SUbmission fighter. In the 3rd Jeff took it to Hallman, pounding him on the ground with Punches but in the end it was a decision in Hallmans favor and believe me the crowd booed loudly in displeasure.

The second fight was 155s with our boy Josh Odom. This tough, technically pretty strong, and really scrappy kid beat the piss out of his opponent finally scoring a 3rd round K.O. and won the knockout of the night

The third fight was Ray Steinbeiss our 170 guy. Well he did not fair well and got himself caught and tapped out in the first round. This is disappointing for all of us especially Ray who recently fought Nick Diaz to a decision. Just an unfortunate incident but I expect Ray to come back big

The fourth fight involved Brian Foster at 185. This man has big brass balls. He is 7 and 9 and fought Joe Doerksen ? on spelling who is 35 and 9. Brian nailed Joe numerous times and had him down but failed to finish and this allowed Joe to come back and get the victory. Brian fought incredibly well and should have won but Joe has an incredible IRON jaw. Joe looked like he lost but in the end Brian who came out with less than a weeks notice to join the team (replacing Brian Ebersole) ended up on the short end. Note to self, If I see Brian Foster on the street avoid his right hand

The next fight involved Rafeal Davis our 205 guy. Rafael fought ill and hadthe fight won but ended up in a decision and came up on the short end of the stick. Both he and his opponent should tremendous heart as their conditioning sucked and they were gased. If Rafael would have been 100% he would have knocked the guy out but he could not finish. He does have heart and he is a trooper.

The last fight involved another late addition in Travis W, our heavyweight at 235. He wailed on his guy for 3 straight rounds pummeling him into the ground and eventually the hospital. Travis is a tough man and has skills but needs work as he is still raw but one heck of a fighter.

So we failed to advance but all things considered there is a lot of potential with these guys. Some time with Frank, Tony and myself we can teach and condition them to be champs but they have to show up in the ring. Heart does not lack, confidence is there but skills need work. Unfortunately only one of the guys lives in San Jose, the rest our throughout the country. We will get everyone together and work on becoming the strongest team

Look for the IFL to grow large as its basis is completely different than UFC and this will draw fighters, big name coaches, and of course the mostimportant aspect, an audience.

You can view the fights Octobr 9th on Fox Sports Net. Look for the Razorclaws. And find out who won the match between Pat Millietech and Renzo Gracie.

Looks like January sometime for the next fight

PS: Technique, skill, and conditioning are the keys. Learn and practice them and with experience and most important confidence anda little luck never hurts you can accomplish extraordinary things within this league.